Curved zipper, method of applying a curved zipper, assembly set and production tool for a zipper

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an insulated curved zipper with two zipper chains extending adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction in a zipper plane, wherein the zipper is made curved in the zipper plane in at least one curve portion, wherein at least one fastening tape made curved in each case in the zipper plane for application to a flat element is arranged in each case in at least one curve portion on each of the zipper chains.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application is filed herewith for the U.S. National Stageunder 35 U.S.C. §371 and claims priority to PCT applicationPCT/EP2011/003259, with an international filing date of Jul. 1, 2011.The contents of this application are incorporated in their entiretyherein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an insulated curved zipper according to thepreamble of Claim 1, tools for the production of the curved zipper, amethod of sealing a wall opening in a manner capable of being opened, aswell as an assembly set with a foil and an insulated curved zipper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Curved zippers are known in principle from the art. A method ofproducing a curved zipper is known from EP 0 364 294 A2, in which acarrier tape of swelling fibers is produced, so that the fibers swell asa result of the application of a solvent to the carrier tape and thezipper assumes a curved shape. The shape is not retained permanently.The method is not suitable for production by machine, and it isexpensive.

In addition, a curved zipper incorporated into a tent is known from FR 2882 384.

A curved zipper in a cryonic suit is disclosed in DE 32 18 390 A1, and aframe for sealing off dust is disclosed in DE 20 2006 010 617 U1, a doorcapable of being opened being provided in the frame. In this case theshape of the curve is achieved in that the zipper is curved in therunning direction. Narrow radii are achieved only by curving the zipperat least locally in the running direction.

DE 7122407 A relates to a bent zipper with carrier tapes which are cutin the region of the bend and which extend along the two zipper chains,there being provided on the inside of the bend notch shaped cuts whichallow the bent zipper to be sewed in without overlaps.

A zipper with two carrier tapes is known from DE 2 038 038. In thiscase, however, the zipper is used for application on the human skin inorder to close incision wounds formed during an operation. The zipper isapplied to the portion of the skin before the operation, is opened andthe incision is then made in the opened zipper and the operation isperformed.

The zippers are sewed into articles of clothing, tent sheets or the likeand acquire their curvature only during the sewing procedure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the aim of the invention to make available a zipper which iscapable of being easily incorporated in a curved form in a flat mediumas well as tools for the production of the zipper. It is also an aim ofthe invention to make available a method of sealing off a wall in amanner capable of being opened, as well as an assembly set by which sucha seal is capable of being produced.

The aim is achieved in its first aspect by a zipper named in theintroduction and with the features of Claim 1 and in its second aspectby a multipart production tool according to Claim 12, and in its thirdaspect by a method with the features of Claim 5. The aim is alsoachieved in a fourth aspect by an assembly set according to Claim 11.

In its first aspect the invention makes use of the concept of makingavailable an insulated curved zipper which retains its curved shape in apermanent and dimensionally stable manner, so that application to a flatelement, such as a textile, in particular an article of clothing or atent cover, or to a foil or the like, is facilitated. To this end, alongits two zipper chains extending adjacent to one another the zipper hasin each case at least one fastening tape of curved shape which keeps thezipper in its curved shape in a permanently dimensionally stable manner.The zipper in this case has a curved shape in a zipper plane which isformed by the zipper chains which extend adjacent to one another. Aninsulated zipper should be understood in this case as being the zipperas an article of notions. The insulated zipper is made available in aninsulated manner from the textile or foil or the like. It is notarranged or fastened on a flat piece of material.

It is advantageous for there to be arranged at each of the zipper chainsin each case at least one carrier tape cut in a multiplicity of timestransversely to the longitudinal direction, and the tape portions formedby the incising are displaced with respect to one another in order toform the curved shape of each carrier tape. In this as also in othercontexts, “at least one” should be understood and is disclosed as one,two or any other higher natural number. Along each carrier tape there isprovided one of the fastening tapes. The two fastening tapes extendingalong the two cut in carrier tapes are preferably joined to the carriertapes in a load resistant and position fixed manner, and in this waythey fix the curved shape in a permanent manner and thus allow theinsulated curved zipper to be introduced, in particular by gluing orsewing, into a flat element, such as a tent cover, a film, an article ofclothing, in a convenient and time saving manner.

It is preferable for an outer side of the at least one fastening tapefacing away from the slider to be provided with an adhesive coating bywhich the zipper is capable of being glued to a film.

In another further development of the invention the at least onefastening tape, and preferably each of the fastening tapes, is arrangedat a distance from and along an associated zipper chain in the curveportion. The carrier tape can be sewn by means of a seam onto a textilealong the gap resulting from the distance between the zipper chain andthe fastening tape. The fastening tape advantageously consists ofpolyester which is capable of being fastened first to the carrier tapeby heating and after the sewing is capable of being removed from thecarrier tape again by repeated heating.

The invention relates in its second aspect to a multipart productiontool for producing the curved zipper. One part has a curved fixing toolwith a curved groove which is formed between two springs and the widthof which is adapted to the distance between the zipper chains. The sideof the zipper chains facing the slider is inserted into the groove, sothat the two carrier tapes project laterally beyond the springs of thefixing tool. The fixing tool is then pressed onto a surface, and atleast one of the curved fastening tapes is glued or welded or the likeon to the side—facing the slider—of each of the carrier tapes facinglaterally away from the fixing tool. A conventional zipper is selectedin advance, and the two carrier tapes extending along the zipper chainsare cut in laterally, at a right angle to the longitudinal direction.The carrier tape on the inside of the curve is provided with notchedincisions, punched in or burnt in portions, whereas the carrier tape onthe outside of the curve is provided with straight incisions, punched inor burnt in portions. The burnt in portions can be produced with the aidof heating rods, heating wires or the like. A second part of theproduction tool has a plate with a groove which is likewise curved, inwhich case a radius of curvature of the curved groove of the plate and aradius of curvature of the curved groove of the fixing tool correspondand are between 10.5 cm to 13.5 cm in each case. When curved zippers areproduced from plastics material zipper chains, radii of curvature of upto less than 10.5 cm can be employed, whereas in the case of zipperswith steel zipper chains radii of under 13.5 cm are not practicablesince the slider remains suspended in the curve of the zipper.

The aim is achieved in its third aspect by a method of applying thecurved zipper to a flat element.

In particular, during the renovation of inner rooms there is frequentlythe requirement to seal off wall openings in the form of door openingsor window openings in order to keep in the room the dust which isformed. To this end, the wall opening is sealed off in a substantiallycompletely dust tight manner with a foil capable of being cut. The foilis laid on the wall opening to this end and by means of adhesive tapesit is fixed at the side of the wall opening and is fixed to the base atthe bottom. According to the invention the insulated curved zipper isapplied, and in particular glued, in a closed form to the wall openingsealed off by the foil. The curved zipper is preferably made U-shapedand is arranged with its open U side advantageously at the top, on theside toward the ceiling. In addition, L-shaped zippers and C-shapedzippers with open sides toward the left or right are possible.

After that, the zipper is opened and the foil is cut along the zipperopening between the two zipper chains. In this way, there is formed adoor capable of being opened in the seal of the wall opening.

In a further development of the method according to the invention thecurved zipper is sewed on to a textile surface. To this end, at leastone seam is inserted between the zipper chain and the fastening tapearranged at a distance from the zipper chain. The curved zipper isfastened to the textile by means of the seams. The textile can bealready divided during the sewing of the zipper. On the other hand, theclosed, sewed zipper is preferably opened after the sewing and thetextile is cut through between the opened zipper chains. The fasteningtape preferably consisting of polyester can be heated beforehand orafterwards and can be released from the zipper in order to increase thewearing comfort.

The aim is achieved in its fourth aspect by an assembly and kit forsealing of, in a manner capable of being opened, a wall opening with afoil capable of being cut and an insulated curved zipper, as wasdescribed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in eleven Figures with reference to one ormore embodiments as follows:

FIG. 1 a is a plan view of a doubly-curved zipper according to theinvention;

FIG. 1 b is a sectional view along the line Ib-Ib identified in FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2 a shows a cutting pattern of the zipper;

FIG. 2 b shows one view of a tool;

FIG. 2 c is a top view of the tool shown in FIG. 2 b;

FIG. 3 a is a sectional view of a tool;

FIG. 3 b is a view from below of the tool shown in FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 3 c is a top view of a tool;

FIG. 4 a shows a wall opening;

FIG. 4 b shows a wall opening shown in FIG. 4 a sealed off by a foil,and

FIG. 4 c shows a zipper of FIG. 1 a glued onto the foil shown in FIG. 4a for forming a foil door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The zipper 1 according to the invention is a further development of aconventional zipper. It has a first zipper chain 2 and a second zipperchain 3 which are hooked into one another by means of a slider 4displaceable in a reciprocating manner for closure and which are pulledapart from one another for opening. The zipper 1 has a longitudinaldirection L which is variable along the zipper 1 but which alwaysextends in one zipper plane E. The zipper plane E is spanned by the twozipper chains 2, 3 arranged adjacent to one another. The zipper 1 ismade doubly curved in the zipper plane E in FIG. 1 a; however, otherembodiments with a plurality of curves or only singly curved zippershapes are also possible. The zipper 1 has three straight portions A1,A2, A3 and two curved portions B1, B2, each of the curved portions B1,B2 having a radius of curvature r of approximately r=12 cm when thezipper chains have a width of approximately 8 mm transversely to thelongitudinal direction. In the case of this radius of curvature r aconventional zipper of plastics material is also capable of being openedand closed in a smooth running manner. In the case of relatively smallzipper chains, smaller radii of curvature are also possible.

Along the two zipper chains 2, 3, extending adjacent to one anotherthere is provided in each case a carrier tape 6, 7. In the curve portionB1, B2 each of the carrier tapes 6, 7 is cut substantially along itsentire width transversely to the longitudinal direction L. A cuttingpattern illustrating the cuts is shown in FIG. 2 a. In this case thecarrier tape 6 on the inside of the curve is cut in the form of a notch,and the carrier tape 7 on the outside of the curve is provided withlinear cuts in the curve portion B1, B2. Along the straight portions A1,A2 and A3 the carrier tapes are not cut in. They retain their originalshape.

As shown in FIG. 1 b the side 8 of each of the carrier tapes 6, 7 facingaway from the slider has glued to it in each case one fastening tape 11,12 curved in a manner adapted thereto, facing away from the slider andformed with a radius of curvature r of for example r=12 cm, as isevident from the side view in FIG. 1 b. On the side 9 of each of thecarrier tapes 6, 7 toward the slider there is likewise glued onefastening tape 13 and 14 curved in a manner adapted thereto, facingtoward the slider and formed with a radius of curvature r of for exampler=12 cm. Fastening tapes 11, 13 on the inside of the curve are cut insubstantially the same way, and the fastening tape 11 on the inside ofthe curve and facing away from the slider is wider by the width of thezipper chain 2 on the inside of the curve than the associated fasteningtape 13 on the inside of the curve and facing toward the slider.Corresponding remarks apply to the two fastening tapes 12, 14 on theoutside of the curve. The four fastening tapes 11, 12, 13, 14 extendonly along one of the curves of the zipper 1. The other of the twocurves of the zipper 1 is also designed in a corresponding manner. Thefour fastening tapes 11, 12, 13, 14 permanently fix the curved zipper 1in the zipper plane E in the curved state. As a result, it is possiblefor the zipper 1 to be further processed and to be used in an easy tomanipulate manner in the curved state. The fastening tapes 11, 12, 13,14 are fastened to the carrier tape 6, 7 spaced by a gap from theassociated zipper chain 2, 3. The gap between the zipper chains 2, 3 andthe fastening tape 11, 12, 13, 14 can be used for setting a seam. It isalso possible for zippers 1 with fastening tapes 13, 14 exclusivelyfacing away from the slider or with fastening tapes 11, 12 exclusivelytoward the slider to be used.

FIG. 2 a shows a cutting pattern for a zipper 1 according to theinvention with a longitudinal direction L and two zipper chains 2, 3.The carrier tape 6 on the inside of the curve is provided withnotch-shaped cuts 20, which have a notch angle of approximately 20°. Atthe outermost edge the width of the notch amounts to 4 mm. A distancebetween the notches amounts to 12.66 mm. Along the carrier tape 7 on theoutside of the curve there are provided linear cuts 21 at a distance of15.86 mm, which have a width of 0.8 mm in each case along their entirelength extending at a right angle to the longitudinal direction L of thezipper.

FIG. 2 b shows a tool 23 for applying a zipper 1 with a groove 22 intowhich the two zipper chains 2, 3 are inserted. The conventional zipper 1is laid rotated on the tool 23 with the zipper chains 2, 3 in the groove22, and, as shown in FIG. 2 a, the cuts 20, 21 are inserted into the twocarrier tapes 6, 7 by means of a cutting, burning or other tool (notshown).

FIG. 2 c shows the tool according to FIG. 2 b in a top view. The groove22 is made curved in the curved portion B1. The two ends of the curvedportion B1 are adjoined in each case by a straight portion A1 and A2respectively. The zipper 1 (not shown) is pressed with its two zipperchains 2, 3 from above in FIG. 2 c into the groove 22 shaped in amatching manner, and the two carrier tapes 6, 7 are heated by means ofan iron and are thus pressed on to the tool 23. An under pressure, whichholds the two carrier tapes 6, 7 on the perforated plate 23, canadvantageously be produced along the groove 22 by the perforationsprovided in the tool 23. After that, the two carrier tapes 6, 7 haveapplied to them from below, i.e. on the side of the carrier tapes 6, 7facing away from the perforated plate 23, the fastening tapes 11, 12facing away from the slider on to the carrier tapes 6, 7. The fasteningtapes 11, 12 can also be polyester strips which can be ironed andfastened on to the carrier tapes 6, 7 from the outside by heating.Fastening tapes 11, 13 toward the slider do not have to be provided atall.

FIGS. 3 a, 3 b and 3 c show two production tools 30, 35, with the aid ofwhich the zipper 1, prefabricated as shown in FIG. 2 a, can be put intoits dimensionally stable final form.

FIG. 3 a is a cross-sectional view along the line IIIa-IIIa in FIG. 3 b.FIG. 3 a shows a copper tube 30 of rectangular cross-section, on theunderside of which two springs 31—between which a groove 32 isformed—project along the outer edge. The springs 31 have an internaldistance of 8.1 mm and a spring width of 0.95 mm in each case. Thespring height amounts to 2.1 mm, so that the zipper 1 prefabricated asshown in FIG. 2 a can be inserted with its zipper chains 2, 3 into thegroove 32 between the springs 31, so that the two carrier tapes 6, 7project laterally beyond the springs 31. The copper tube 30 issufficiently heavy to fix the zipper 1 curved in an arcuate manner on anunderlayer, such as for example a table top, by its inherent weight.Lateral walls of the copper tube are in alignment with outer sides ofthe springs 31.

FIG. 3 b shows the copper tube 30 in a view from below in FIG. 3 a. Thecopper tube 30 is made curved in the longitudinal direction L. A curvedfastening tape 11, 12 bent in advance is glued, ironed or welded on theinside and outside of the curves in each case on to the outer sides ofthe carrier tapes 6, 7 toward the slider. To this end, the preparedzipper 1 is fixed on the underlayer with the aid of the copper tube 30.After the application of the two curved fastening tapes 11, 12 facingaway from the slider, the zipper 1 is removed from the groove 32 and isinserted into a groove 36 of a copper plate 35 as shown in FIG. 3 c. Thegroove 36 of the copper plate 35 likewise has a width of 8.1 mm and adepth of approximately 2.1 mm. As a result of the insertion of thecurved zipper 1 into the groove 36 of the copper plate 35 the outersides of the carrier tapes 6, 7 facing away from the slider are freelyavailable for processing. A curved fastening tape 13, 14 is likewiseglued or ironed in each case on to the two outer sides of the carriertapes 6, 7 facing away from the slider. The two fastening tapes 13, 14toward the slider do not touch the respective zipper chain 2, 3, so thatthe slider 4 can slide smoothly again. The zipper 1 has thus reached itsend state.

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b, 4 c show three steps of a method according to theinvention for the application of a door 40 capable of being opened intoa wall opening 41. First of all, there is the requirement to seal off awall opening 41, for example in the form of a door frame, as there ispresent a considerable development of dust in an inner room, for exampleas a result of construction work. The sealing off is first carried outby a foil 42 being glued in a dust tight manner to one side of the wallopening 41. This can be a conventional transparent foil 42 which,however, is capable of being cut by a knife. The edges of the foil 42are fixed to the wall 44, and optionally to the bottom 45, by means ofadhesive tape 43. This state is shown in FIG. 4 b. The zipper 1according to the invention is then glued on to the foil 42 glued to thewall opening 41, as shown in FIG. 1 a. To this end, the outer sides ofthe fastening tapes 11, 12 facing away from the slider have an adhesivelayer. The adhesive layer can be protective by a pull off protectivefoil. The adhering zipper 1 is glued in the closed state to the foil 42.The zipper 1 is U shaped and is glued with its open U side at the top,i.e. on the side toward the ceiling, to the foil 42. It is also possiblefor a fastening tape on the side toward the bottom to be glued directlyto the bottom. The zipper 1 is then opened, and the foil 42 emergingbetween the zipper chains 2, 3 is cut along the longitudinal direction Lbetween the zipper chains 2, 3. On account of the U shape of the gluedzipper 1 there is thus formed a door 40 which is capable of being openedand which is capable of being closed in a dust tight manner with the aidof the zipper 1.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1 zipper

2 zipper chain

3 zipper chain

4 slider

6 carrier tape on the inside of the curve

7 carrier tape on the outside of the curve

8 side facing away from the slider

9 side toward the slider

11 fastening tape facing away from the slider and on the inside of thecurve

12 fastening tape facing away from the slider and on the outside of thecurve

13 fastening tape toward the slider and on the inside of the curve

14 fastening tape toward the slider and on the outside of the curve

20 linear incision

21 linear incision

22 groove

23 tool

30 copper tube

31 springs

32 groove

35 copper plate

36 groove

40 door

41 wall opening

42 foil

43 adhesive tape

44 wall

45 bottom

L longitudinal direction

E zipper plane

A1 straight portion

A2 straight portion

A3 straight portion

B1 curved portion

B2 curved portion

r radius of curvature

What is claimed is:
 1. An insulated curved zipper comprising: two zipperchains extending adjacent to one another in a longitudinal direction ina zipper plane, wherein the zipper is made curved in the zipper plane inat least one curve portion and there is arranged at each of the twozipper chains in each case at least one carrier tape cut in a pluralityof times transversely to the longitudinal direction, characterized inthat at least one fastening tape fixing the curved shape of the zipperin the zipper plane in a permanent manner in the curved state isarranged in the at least one curve portion along each carrier tape. 2.An insulated curved zipper according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe at least one fastening tape has an adhesive outer side for adhesionto a flat element.
 3. An insulated curved zipper according to claim 1,characterized in that the at least one fastening tape is arranged at adistance from and along the zipper chains in the curve portion.
 4. Aninsulated curved zipper according to claim 2, characterized in that theat least one fastening tape is arranged at a distance from and along thezipper chains in the curve portion.
 5. An insulated curved zipperaccording to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one fasteningtape is comprised of polyester.
 6. An insulated curved zipper accordingto claim 1, further comprising a wall opening that is substantiallycovered with a foil capable of being cut, the closed insulated curvedzipper glued to a side of the foil, so that as the glued zipper isopened, the foil is cut through between the zipper chains.
 7. Aninsulated curved zipper according to claim 6, further comprising anassembly set including the foil capable of being cut and the insulatedcurved zipper.
 8. A method of applying a curved zipper to a flatelement, comprising: permanently fastening an insulated curved zipperhaving two zipper chains extending adjacent to one another in alongitudinal direction in a zipper plane in a fixed manner to a flatelement so that the fastened zipper is opened and the flat element iscut through between the opened zipper chains, wherein the zipper is madecurved in the zipper plane in at least one curve portion and there isarranged at each of the two zipper chains in each case at least onecarrier tape cut in a plurality of times transversely to thelongitudinal direction, and wherein at least one fastening tape fixingthe curved shape of the zipper in the zipper plane in a permanent mannerin the curved state is arranged in the at least one curve portion alongeach carrier tape.
 9. A method according to claim 8, further comprisingsealing off a wall opening in a manner capable of being opened, in thatthe wall opening is covered substantially completely with a foil capableof being cut, and the closed insulated curved zipper is glued to a sideof the foil, and the glued zipper is opened, and the foil is cut throughbetween the zipper chains.
 10. A method according to claim 9,characterized in that the zipper with remnants of foil remaining on itsadhering outer side is cut out of the remaining foil, and the remnantsof foil are pulled off from the adhering outer side only before afurther use of the zipper.
 11. A method according to claim 8, furthercomprising sewing the curved zipper into a textile, in that theinsulated zipper is sewed to the textile with at least one seam in eachcase between the zipper chain and the associated fastening tape arrangedat a distance from the zipper chain.
 12. A method according to claim 11,characterized in that the sewed zipper is opened and the textile is cutthrough between the two opened zipper chains.
 13. A method according toclaim 11, characterized in that the fastening tape is heated and is thenreleased from the sewed in zipper.
 14. A method according to claim 12,characterized in that the fastening tape is heated and is then releasedfrom the sewed in zipper.
 15. A multipart production tool for a curvedzipper, comprising: a curved fixing tool having a curved groove, a widthof which is adapted to a distance between two zipper chains and whichhas a radius of curvature of between 10.5 cm to 13.5 cm, and a platehaving a curved groove, the radius of curvature of which corresponds tothe radius of curvature of the fixing tool.
 16. A multipart productiontool according to claim 15, characterized by a plate with a straightgroove.